Product and Style Tips

With working from home becoming so common lately, many homeowners are creating home offices. Even if you don't work when at home, an office is a great place to organize bills, file taxes, write emails or just relax and read a book.

Small spaces
If you don't have an entire room to dedicate to a home office, you can still carve out a work-friendly nook in your home. HGTV notes that just about any corner of your house can become a home office with the right accessories. Consider finding a seldom-used corner where you can install a few simple items, including a small writing surface and some minimal shelving. Since many work stations don't need much more than space for a laptop and a coffee these days, a little creative furniture arranging will help almost anyone carve out a spot. You may want to stay on the lighter side of furniture and accessories, as this will help you quickly pack up your workspace in the event that you need to temporarily use the area for a social gathering or overnight guests.

The view
If you're planning to spend a lot of time in your home office, consider using a room with a view. This may mean making a sacrifice, but consider the importance of a pleasing vista for each room's purpose: Do your guests really need to see that flowering tree from their bed? However, be mindful of the glare from the windows, as nothing ruins a good book or a productive workday quite as much as blinding sunlight. Consider installing simple roller shades or pleated shades to let the sunlight in or keep it out, depending on your workload and the time of day.

Repurposing
If you want to be more tucked away in your workspace and enjoy an intimate spot when concentrating, a smaller area, like that suggested by HGTV, will work well and keep you from dedicating an entire bedroom to the cause. However, if you like to keep an eye on the house and can't stand the thought of being cooped up while you work, consider creating a double-purpose room in your house. Rarely used dining rooms can function as an office, especially when furniture is kept on coasters for easy shifting. Even kitchen pantries and other small rooms can be creatively redesigned with some clever redistribution and themed accessories.